Singapore’s traffic police has gone on a spending spree with tax money after acknowledging to be buying German luxurious models for its patrol vehicles.
The Traffic Police was forced to make a press release yesterday (Jul 18) after a member of the public took a photo of the latest BMW 3 series traffic police car, and shared it on Whatsapp groups. The BMW Singapore dealer also posted the photos of the latest fleet on its Facebook page.
Refusing to disclose the cost of the BMW vehicles, the Traffic Police gave a blank media release:
“The Traffic Police procures new expressway patrol cars periodically as part of its vehicle replacement programme, as well as to enhance its operational capabilities and effectiveness. These new expressway patrol cars will replace the older models and should be ready for patrol duties by early 2019.”
A check on Singapore’s BMW website revealed that the BMW 340i sedan model cost S$258,888 each in retail price, excluding COE and vehicle taxes amounting at least S$35,000. According to earlier media reports, the new patrol vehicle will add new police technology features like surround camera surveillance, facial recognition, communication extenders and a number of police modifications – believed to cost at least a further S$100,000 in fitting per vehicle. The total estimated cost per vehicle is estimated at S$300,000 each, after government discounts and taxes.
Eight models were procured, totalling at least S$2.4 million in spending.
The Traffic Police did not explain how were the excessive spending justified, when all civilian vehicles in Singapore are fitted with speed limiters and that the existing Chevrolet Cruze and Hyundai Elantra models have already outstanding vehicle power to chase down any speeding civilian vehicle in Singapore. Singapore does not have motorways that would warrant long hours high speed chase either, with the longest expressway being only 43km long.
The Singapore government is currently in debt owing undisclosed billions to state-owned companies and CPF account holders.